Amusement device



AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 12, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR fi ermm BY 1215 ATTORNEY Filed April 12. 1950 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lap/m Jan. 9 1934. s'rEmM E'rz 1,943,095

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR fifrmm 526mg; BY

- .%zlsATToRNEY Jan. 9, 1934. H. STEINMETZ 1,943,095

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 12, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet. 4

67 I INVENTOR 65 fi rmaza 52am);-

6 LsATToRNEY Jan. 9, 1934.

H lHIIHIIHIIMHII IIIHHHII H. STEINMETZ 1,943,095

AMUSEMENT DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April :12, 1930 HHIHHIIQHH Hilly lNV ENTOR Earmarz BY m W zsATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1934 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Herman Steinmetz, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Advance Machine 00.,

tion of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application April 12, 1930. Serial No. 443,859

Claims.

The present invention relates to an amusement device and has for its object more particularly to provide an improved gameapparatus of the projectile driving type having a plurality of receiv- 5 ing stations, one of which constitutes a preferred station or goal for the projectiles which are driven through a flight passage by means arranged to strike the projectiles preferably while moving from one point of the machine to another, the

19 success of the driving operations depending upon the skill of the player, both to determine the proper moment at which to strike the moving projectile and the force to be applied thereto, taking into account the force of gravity acting 5 thereon during the flight of the projectile toward the goal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class described in con- 'unction with a field, in front of which the pro- 20 jectiles are guided in full view of the player, the

field having any desired data or pictorial representations thereon, such for example as a map having various geographical points, from one of which the projectiles are made to travel to or in the direction of others, said points being preferably located on different continents with an intervening ocean to be traversed by the projectile, the idea in this case being to simulate or suggest the flight of an airship across the ocean to a particular goal in order to make the game more interesting and exciting to the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus of the class described with improved projecting means which will serve to prevent the discharge of a projectile, from a passage or pocket of the machine in which it has been deposited, to another passage or pocket thereof or its return to the exterior of the machine through the entrance passage for the projectile should an unscrupulous person attempt to manipulate or shift the machine from normal position to any other position for this purpose.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line Bic-3a of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the door of the I from one point to another.

driven into the vertical flight passage of the machine;

- Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8a-8a of Fig. 1, showing means for preventing the removal of the projectiles from the machine through the guide passage leading to the driving means; a

Fig. 91s a front elevation of a frame bar having a slot or pocket affording a goal for the projectiles;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of another frame bar for guiding or delivering the projectiles to the driving means;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevation showing a part of the means for automatically obstructing the goal passage to prevent the entrance of a projectile thereto when the player attempts to 2 make the goal by tilting the machine to roll a projectile into said passage; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the driving means for the projectiles.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

In the present invention I provide apparatus of the class described in conjunction with a container or receptacle for receiving the projectiles, tokens, or discs played by the operator which are held temporarily'at the stations to which they may be driven and subsequently released for discharge by gravity into the container where they can be removed from time to time by one having control over the machine. The several mechanisms and associated parts for controlling the passage of the projectiles within the machine are mounted on a suitable frame, preferably constituting a hinged door or closure for the container and having a lock for preventing access to the container and to the mechanism for controlling the passage of the projectiles:

One idea of the invention is to provide means for directing a projectile downwardly in a passage and in full view of the player and periodically and momentarily interrupting its descent to check its speed so that the latter will not be excessive at the moment the projectile reaches the point Where it is to be acted on by the driving means through manual operation thereof by the player.

A further idea is to drive the descending projectiles laterally from their path of travel transversely across a field in full view of the operator and under the action of gravity to a preferred station or goal. The field is disposed behind the guide or flight passage for the projectile and preferably comprises a map having different countries shown thereon with certain geographical points indicated for one or more of the countries, one for the starting point of the projectile and others representing points or stations having different values at which the projectile may chance to fall depending upon the skill of the player. The distances of the various stations from the starting point are preferably indicated upon the map and the projectiles or portions thereof are visible at said stations so that the player and others can readily determine the relative values of the different shots made during operation of the machine. The preferred station or goal is preferably located above the remaining stations and is in the form of a pocket or recess for receiving the projectile and has means for temporarily holding it in position to be viewed by an attendant or score keeper in charge of the machine.

The goal pocket or passage is also provided with protecting means which will prevent the passage of a projectile thereto, should any attempt be made to shift the machine to a position at which to direct or roll one or more of the driven projectiles into the pocket.

Means is also provided for preventing the recovery of any of the projectiles from the machine by an attempt to manipulate the same for the purpose of passing the projectiles back through the delivery or guide passage leading to the driving means. Furthermore; common means is provided for releasing the projectiles for discharge by gravity from any and all receiving stations to a desired point or points within the container.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents generally a frame in the form of a door or closure for a container or receptacle 11, the base 12 of which is provided with feet 13 preferably of rubber fon supporting the machine upon a table or the like without injury thereto. The frame or closure 10 is hinged at 14 to the top 15 of the machine, as shown in Figs.'2 and 3, and is provided at its bottom with a suitable lock 16, Fig. 4, for preventing unauthorized access to the container. As stated above, the frame or door 10 preferably carries all of the mechanism and parts necessary to effect the desired control over the projectiles until they are finally discharged from the various receiving stations to the bottom of the container. The frame is preferably cast in one piece with rearwardly projecting top and bottom flanges l7 and 18, the latter being notched to receive the lower portion of the lock 16 and the former being notched at 19 to receive the forward butts of the hinges 14 which are so applied as to prevent their removal, except when the door is unlocked and moved to open position. The frame is also provided with rearwardly projecting side flanges 20 and 21, the former being on the right side of the door, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the latter on the left side.

At the right hand side of the machine, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5, and as shown in detail in Fig. 10, is a projectile guide bar 22 having a delivery passage 23 for the projectiles 24 which are discharged downwardly to the point from which they are to be driven transversely into or through a substantially vertical flight passage 25 formed by spacing apart two transparent sheets 26 and 27, preferably glass plates which are secured in a manner subsequently described.

At the left hand side of the machine, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, and as shown in detail in Fig.

.9, is a vertically disposed frame bar 28 forming a closure for the left side of the passage 25, except for a restricted opening or recess at 29 affording a goal slot or preferred station for the projectiles driven into the flight passage 25. The

slot 29 communicates with a vertically disposed passage or pocket 30 in the bar 28 for receiving the projectiles 24 which enter the slot, one of which is shown therein in Fig. 9 where it is temporarily held at a station designated A, by means hereinafter described. The bar '28 is provided with two inwardly projecting lugs 31 which serve to space the rear plate 27 from-the front plate 26 at the left hand side -of the frame 10 and the bar 22 is providedwith two similar lugs 32 which perform the same function at the right hand side of the frame, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5.

The guide bar 22 is provided at its upper end with an opening 33, Figs. 1 and 10, in which the projectiles are disposed for downward movement in the passage 23 to a lateral outlet passage or opening 34 directly opposite and communicating with the flight passage 25 betwen the transparent plates 26 and 27. Just above the outlet passage 34, two elongated lugs or. ribs 35 and 36 are provided on the bar 22 which form a restricted guideway for the projectile, said guideway being of a width slightlygreater than the diameter of the projectile whereby the latter is properly centered in the path from which it is to be driven through the opening 34 by a pivoted driving element 37 free to swing on a pin 38 projecting forwardly from the guide bar 22. The actuating means for the driving element comprises a lever 39, the upper end of which is pivoted on a pin 40 projecting rearwardly from the guide bar 22. The lever has a forwardly projecting pin 41 operable within a slot 42 of the bar to strike the outer edge of the pivoted driving element near its upper end whereby said element is rapidly swung across the path of the descending projectile as it enters the opening 34 in which the driving element 37 is free to swing. The lever has a lower operating portion 43 projecting from the right hand side of the machine through a slot in the flange 21 of the frame.

In operating the driving means the player utilizes one finger to strike the projecting lever portion 43 in order to swing the lever to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the pivoted driving element 3'7 is swung into engagement with the descending projectile to drive it from the opening 34 into the flight passage 25 in the direction of the goal slot 29 at the opposite side of the frame which communicates with a pocket 30 in which the projectile is temporarily held by a pin 44 at the goal station A. The lever 39 is notched at its lower end to afford oppositely disposed abutments 45 and 46 for engagement with a stop pin 47 when the lever is in the extreme positions shown in Figs. 4 and 12. A spring 48, Fig. 12, has one end secured to a lug 49 on the back of the guide bar 22 and the other secured to an angular portion 50 on the upper end of the lever 39. The spring serves to hold the lever in the normal inoperative position shown in Fig. 4 with the abutment 45 against the stop pin 47. The throw of the lever is limited by the distance between the abutments 45 and 46, the

latter striking the stop pin when the lever is.

moved to the extreme operating position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the lever when released being quickly returned to normal position by the spring 48. It will be understood, however, that the movement of the driving element 37 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, is not limited in any way by the lever 39. However, it is limited by the lower end of the lug 35, against which it strikes and which serves to throw it back against the pin 41 on the lever 39. In the position shown in Fig. l the driving element has caught the descending projectile and started it on its flight in a curved path indicated by the dotted line 48 which by way of example indicates a path in which the projectile may be driven to a point below the goal slot 29 if struck with a given force at a particular moment in its downward movement through the passage 23. A second dotted line 49 indicates the path of travel of the projectile to the goal slot 29 when the speed and timing of the driving element 37 are correctly produced by the player. It will be understood that the descending projectile may be engaged by the driving element at different points along the striking face of the latter to drive the projectile into the goal passage 29, provided the blow is delivered with the proper force to afford the correct angle and speed of the projectile in the flight passage 25.

If the player prefers, he may allow the descending projectile to lodge on the shelf-like member 50 at the bottom of the passage 34 before operating the driving means. In this event the lower bevelled portion 37a of the driving element will strike the projectile and drive it forwardly in the direction of the goal passage. However, the driving operations are intended to be performed while the projectiles are moving downwardly and just subsequently to their passage into the opening 34. The driving means is designed primarily for use in this way and renders the game more exciting when played in this manner.

In order to check the speed of the projectile when descending in the passage 23 of the guide bar, so that its movement will be sufliciently slow to permit the player to operate the driving means without having to hurry and without fear of failing to strike the projectile at the proper point within the opening 34, I provide a series of lugs 51 at the opposite edges of the bar which are staggered, as shown, and which have downwardly inclined faces 52, as best indicated in Fig. 10. The projectile in its descent takes a zig zag course in the passage 23 since each of said lugs causes it to change its direction of movement. The projectile, it will be understood, rolls off of each inclined lug onto the next succeeding one therebeneath and in this way its speed is so reduced that when it passes from between the guide lugs 35 and 36 its movement is relatively slow and the player has no trouble in operating the driving means in time to strike the projectile before it reaches the shelf 50.

The guide member 22 is preferably secured to "he frame 10 by means of the upper and lower screws 53 and 54 respectively, Fig. 4, which are extended through holes 53a and 54a therein, Fig. 10. The upper end of the bar 28 is secured to the frame by a screw 55 and its lower end is notched at the outside to form a shoulder 56 which rests on the upper of a pair of lugs 57, Fig. 6, provided for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The bars 22 and 28 are also held in position by a pair of transversely extending clamping strips 58 which engage the rear faces of said bars and which are clamped thereon by screws 59 taking into lugs 60 of the frame as shown in Fig. 5. The clamping strips 58 also serve to hold the rear glass 2'7 in place with its perpendicular edges against the lugs 31 and 32. The upper edge of said glass is held against a pair of lugs 61 and an intermediate lug 62 on the portion 63 of the frame surrounding the opening through which the projectiles are viewed in their travel from one side of the frame to the other, said portion 63 receiving and supporting the entire peripheral edge of the front glass 26. The lower edge of the rear glass rests upon two of a series of spaced lugs 64 having extended portions 64a for supporting the glass as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The sheet 65 on which is printed the map having the countries, the intervening ocean and the various geographical points mentioned above is placed upon the back surface of the rear glass 2'7 and is held thereon preferably by the clamping strips 58 described above.

In addition to the preferred goal station A six other stations are provided at the bottom of the flight passage 25. These stations are indicated by the letters B to G inclusive between the several 1 lugs 64 as shown in Fig. 4, the extreme left hand lug, not shown in this figure, being one of a pair corresponding to the lugs 57 shown in Fig. 6. Cooperating with said lugs to hold the projectiles at said stations are a series of pins or projections 1 67, one for each station, the pins being carried by a bar 68 free to slide between the upper and lower lugs 57 mentioned above. The bar is held in proper position by a pair of plates 69 secured to the lugs 57 by screws '70 as shown in Fig. 4. 1 The left hand end of the bar, as viewed in Fig. 4, engages a head '71 on a push pin '72 extending through and guided in a lug '73 preferably cast integrally with the frame. To release the projectiles at the stations shown in Fig. 4, it is only 1 necessary to push the pin '72 inwardly until the pins 67 on the bar 68 clear the openings between the fixed lugs 64, after which the projectiles will drop by gravity into the bottom of the container. A spring '74 connected with a lug 74a on the bar 1 and one of the screws '70 serves to return the bar to normal position when released.

The bar 68 has an upstanding arm '75 on which is carried the pin 44 projecting into a slot '76 in the upright bar 28 as shown in Figs. 4 and 9 for 1 normally holding theprojectile 24 at station A, as shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the bar 68 to release the projectiles which may lodge at one or more of the stations B to G inclusive affects simultaneous movement of the said arm and the 1 pin 44 thereon whereby the projectile in the slot 30 at station A is also freed for passage downwardly into the bottom of the container. Immediately below the stations 13 to G the frame 10 has an inclined wall portion 68a for directing the 1 projectiles into the container.

The purpose of temporarily holding the projectiles at the various stations including station A is to permit a record to be made of the score of any player for a given number of shots. By giving certain values to the different stations from A to G inclusive, it will be relatively easy to determine the winner in a series of games by different players.

The map 65 preferably carries certain data just shown in the circles 77 in Fig. 1. This data preferably includes the names of certain stations together with the approximate distance in miles of the same from the startingpoint of the pro jectiles, the designation Mid ocean being also indicated and corresponding to one of the stations in the series A to G inclusive.

A picture of a flying machine represented at '78 is carried by the map and is indicated as proceeding in the direction of a geographical point adjacent the slot 29, this being the point at which the player attempts to drive a projectile by successfully directing it along a certain path, for example, that indicated by the dotted line 49 in Fig. 1.

It will be understood, of course, that in certain cases, the projectiles failing to pass into the slot 29 will strike the inner face 79 of the bar 28 and will rebound and fall to one of the stations at the bottom of the flight passage 25 between the front and rear glass plates. In any event, the score for any particular game will be reckoned from the station or stations at which the projectiles may find their way, taking into account the value previously assigned to the different stations.

Means is provided for preventing the discharge of any of the tokens or projectiles from the machine through the delivery passage 23 by tilting or turning the machine upside down for this purpose. This means comprises preferably a small Wire or other suitable device so disposed within the passage 23 as to permit the projectiles to pass downwardly over the same but serving to prevent their return through said passage should the container be turned upside down or otherwise positioned or manipulated for this purpose. This means is best shown in Fig. 8 and comprises preferably a spring wire 80 disposed on the back of the guide bar 22 and having its lower end projecting into the passage 23 through an opening 81 in the guide bar. The wire at its upper end is bent to form a loop 82 through which extends a clamping screw 83 taking into a lug 84 on the bar 22 and having a washer 85 disposed under its head in engagement with the loop. By loosening the screw the wire may be adjusted up or down as desired to afford the correct distance between its extreme lower end and the rear face of the front glass 26. This distance is made slightly less than the thickness of the projectile and the spring may be so adjusted as to have a slight retarding action on the projectile, though not sufiicient to prevent its downward movement to thedesired point opposite the driving means. The spring is made sufficiently long and resilient to permit its lower end to be momentarily displaced under the action of the descending projectile when adjusted to a predetermined position. At any rate, the spring is so placed as to prevent the return of the projectiles through the passage 23 of the guide bar 22, under the conditions mentioned above, since under such circumstances the projectile will move to a position behind the lower end of the spring where it will be held against further outward movement in the passage 23.

Means is provided for preventing the passage, in either direction, of the projectiles through the slot 29, Fig. l, where an attempt is made to shift or manipulate the machine in such a manner as to cause one or more of the projectiles within the flight passage 25 to roll through said slot into the goal pocket 30, or from the latter back above each of the stations B to G inclusive, as

into the flight passage 25. This is to make it impossible for unscrupulous persons to obtain advantage by what would be a comparatively easy method of directing the projectiles into the goal pocket if the automatic obstructing means were not provided. While said means is provided primarily for the purpose of preventing passage of the projectiles in this manner into the goal pocket it also serves to prevent the return passage of the projectiles therefrom back to the flight passage 25 by a player who might attempt to prevent another player from obtaining credit for a goal shot before the score of the last mentioned player could be checked upi or a record of the same made. The means for accomplishing this result comprises an element 85 preferably in the form of a bell crank lever rigidly mounted on the pin 86, the opposite ends of which are journalled in a pair of lugs 87 on the back of the upright bar 28, Figs. 4 and 6. The vertical arm of the lever carries a forwardly extending obstructing member 88 for projection through a slot 89 in the bar 28, said member clearing the slot when the machine is in normal upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The obstructing member preferably has its free end bent to form a substantially right angle portion 88a extending lengthwise of the slot 89, as shown in Fig. 1, for more effectively blocking the passage of the projectiles through the slot 29. The substantially horizontal arm 90 of the bell crank lever has depending therefrom a flexible element 91 which may be in the form of a chain, cord or the like. The flexible element carries a weight 92, preferably in the form of a metal ball which normally occupies its lowermost position in'a cup shaped member 93 suitably secured to the back of the upright bar 28. In this position the weight exerts a suflicient pull on the flexible member to hold the lever 85 and obstructing element 88 thereon in position to clear the passage 29. The bottom wall 94 of the cup preferably has an opening 95 therein of slightly less diameter than that of the ball and over which the latter is normally centered when in its lowermost position, where it exerts a downward pull on the connection 91 for the purpose stated above. Since the wall 94 is inclined with respect to the central axis of the cup in the manner shown, the ball will roll out of the opening onto the inclined surface whenever the machine is tilted a certain amount, as for example to the angle indicated in Fig.- 6. This will be true regardless of the direction in which the machine may be tilted, either to the front or rear or to either side of the normal position shown in Fig. 2. The shifting movement of the ball in this manner causes it to move nearer to the pivotal axis of the lever 85, thus affording slack in the flexible element 91 and permitting a spring 96 to shift the lever and part 88 thereon to obstructing position with respect to the slot 29. The spring has one end connected to the arm 90 of the lever and the other to a lug 97 on the bar 28. The flexible element 91 is preferably extended through the ball and has a depending portion 98 projecting through an opening in an arm 99 extending rearwardly from the bottom of the bar 28, Fig. 26. The ball is secured to the flexible element in any suitable manner.

A plate or other suitable member 100 is secured to the lower end of the portion 98 of the flexible element and serves to engage the arm 99 to limit the travel of the ball from its central position within the cup when the machine is tilted in any direction to the extent indicated in Fig. .6. Thus,

no, matter in what direction the machine may be swung from normal upright position; .in an attempt to pass a projectile into or out of the goal pocket 30, the ball will roll to a position within the cup at which it will slacken the connection 91 before'the machine can be tilted sufliciently to cause the projectile to enter the slot 29 from either direction. r i v V The sheet having the map shown with the geographical points thereon may be readily removed andother sheets inserted inits place having markings or characters of different kinds at different distances from the starting point of the projectile, to which certain values may be assigned, these values, as in the present case, being relatively indicated at points adjacent the receiving stations for the projectiles, either by numerals or letters as shown in Fig. 1 or by any other characters suitable for this purpose.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an amusement device, a frame, spaced plates carried by the frame and having a station at one side thereof located between the upper and lower edges of the plates whereby to provide a goal for a projectile to be driven between said plates, a vertically disposed guide carried by the frame arranged to receive a projectile to be discharged by gravity downwardly therein, said guide having portions projecting into the path of descent of the projectile and arranged to successively engage the projectile during its descent whereby to check its speed, and means for striking the projectile during its descent through said guide arranged to drive it transversely between said plates for the purpose of directing it to said station.

2. In an amusement device, a frame, spaced plates carried by the frame and having a restricted discharge passage at one side thereof, a vertically disposed guide at the opposite side of said plates arranged to receive a projectile at its upper end to be discharged by gravity downwardly therein, the guide having portions for causing the projectile to move in a zig-zag path whereby to check its speed and also having an outlet communicating with the space between the plates and a projectile driving device arranged adjacent said outlet for striking the projectile for the purpose of driving it transversely between said plates in the direction of said restricted discharge passage.

3. In an amusement device, a frame, guide means carried by the frame forming a vertically disposed passage for a projectile including a transparent sheet for rendering the projectile visible when driven into said passage, a guide for directing the projectile in a substantially vertical path under the action of gravity, said guide embodying means by which the projectile is intermittently interrupted in its downward movement and driving means for the projectile arranged to strike the latter during its descent through said guide and adapted to project it transversely of the path into said passage.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, means carried by the frame forming a vertically disposed flight passage for a projectile, said frame having a station at one side of said passage affording a goal for the projectile, a member at the opposite side of the flight passage having a vertically disposed guideway for receiving and directing projectiles under the action of gravity downwardly to a predetermined station, said member having a series of abutments at opposite sides of the guideway arranged to receive and to alternately direct the descending projectiles toward opposite sides of the guideway during their descenttherein and means for driving the projectiles from the last mentioned station in the direction of said. goal. 7

5. In apparatus of the class described, an upright frame having a vertically disposed flight passage. fora projectile and also having projectile delivery and discharge passages leading to and from the flight passage, means for driving the projectiles. from the delivery passage into the flight passage and means constructed to automatically assume a position at which it will prevent the discharge of the projectiles from the flight passage into one of the other passages when the frame is inclined a predetermined amount to the plane in which it is positioned for normal operation.

6. In apparatus of the class described, an upright frame having a vertically disposed flight passage for a projectile and also having projectile delivery and discharge passages leading to and from the flight passage, means for driving the projectiles from the delivery passage into the flight pasage, guard means for the discharge passage including a member arranged to move automatically to obstruct the same whereby to prevent the passage of a projectile therethrough when the frame is inclined a predetermined amount to the plane in which it is positioned for normal operation.

7. In apparatus of the class described, an upright frame having a vertically disposed projectile flight passage and having delivery and discharge passages leading to and from the same, means for driving the projectiles placed in the delivery passage into the flight passage, a releasable obstructing device for one of the last mentioned passages normally permitting the passage of a projectile therethrough and arranged to automatically move to obstructing position when released, and means carried by the frame adapted in the normal position thereof to hold said device in non-obstructing position with respect to the passage which it controls, said means being adapted to automatically assume a position at which it will release said device when the frame is inclined to a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal.

8. In apparatus of the class described, an upright frame having a vertically disposed flight passage with an outlet passage leading therefrom, means for driving projectiles into said flight passage in the direction of said outlet passage, a pivoted member for obstructing said outlet passage, a weight depending from said pivoted member whereby to hold it in non-obstructing position when the frame is in normal upright position, and a support on the frame for the weight, the latter being adapted upon movement of the frame from normal upright position to any of a number of inclined positions to shift its position upon the support whereby to release said obstructing member for movement to obstruct said outlet passage.

9. In an amusement device, a frame, spaced plates carried by the frame and having a restricted discharge passage at one side thereof, a vertically disposed guide at the opposite side of said plates and arranged to receive a projectile at its upper end to be discharged by gravity downwardly therein, said guide having an opening communicating with the space between the plates, a pivotally mounted driving element arranged adjacent the lower end of the guide and normally extending in a direction lengthwise of the guide, and a pivotally mounted actuating member adapted to be struck by the operator and separate from said driving element and adapted to engage and swing said driving element about its pivot to cause the latter to engage and strike said projectile as it falls through said guide to drive the projectile through the outlet of the guide.

10. In an amusement device, a frame, spaced plates carried by the frame and having a .restricted discharged passage at oneside thereof, a vertically disposed guide at the opposite side of said plates and arranged to receive a projectile at its upper end to be discharged by gravity downwardly therein, means within the guide for checking the descent of the projectile therethrough, said guide having an opening communieating with the space between the plates, a pivotally mounted driving element arranged adjacent the lower end of the guide andvnormally r HERMAN STEINMETZ. 

